Claudio Martinez, a Jamaica Plain resident and executive director of the Hyde Square Task Force, was named the new vice-chair of the Boston School Committee on Sept. 18.
Martinez has served on the School Committee, which governs Boston Public Schools, since 2008. He is known for his advocacy for bilingual education and co-chairs the committee’s Task Force on English Language Learners.
He drew widespread criticism for calling a heckler a “white privileged kid” at a 2010 hearing in JP where the School Committee controversially voted to close various public schools.
“It has been an honor working with Mr. Martinez over the past five years and I appreciate his efforts leading the ELL Task Force,” School Committee Chair Michael O’Neill said in a press statement. “We are very pleased that he is willing to take this next step.”
Martinez replaces retiring longtime committee member Alfreda Harris. An application process to fill her vacant seat is underway.
From press materials and Gazette archives.
Corrected version: This version corrects the name of Harris.